Songs Without Words (Lieder ohne Worte)
Felix Mendelssohn
Recordings
Top Choice
Daniel Barenboim
1973Gil's top choice. Barenboim's 'beautiful touch' and 'smooth sumptuousness... really... works well for these works' because it 'accentuates that kind of peaceful, not as heavy quality.' 'Very well recorded.'
Also Worth Hearing
Walter Gieseking
1956'Wonderfully lyrical, wonderful character and imagination.' A good recording (coupled with his Grieg) that 'really illuminate[s] these pieces as well.'
Ignaz Friedman
1930'Unmissable' selections. Friedman had a 'wonderful musical quality of a romantic soul' married to 'wonderful rhythmic inflection and tone and color.' Sound is old but 'unmissable.'